Cognitive Distraction on Food Intake: Randomized Crossover Exploratory Study

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Obesity; Weight, Body
• Interventions: Behavioral: Rapid Visual Information Processing task; Behavioral: None or Control condition

• Registration Number: NCT04078607
• Lead Sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Brief Summary

This study determined effects of a cognitive distraction on amount, preference, and memory of food consumed and perceptions of fullness, hunger, and enjoyment of food in a healthy young-adult population. A randomized controlled crossover study of 119 healthy adults, assigned to begin in either the distracted or control condition, was conducted.

Detailed Description

Environmental distractions have been shown to affect eating patterns. Influences of food environments on consumption patterns and not simply food choices are becoming increasingly clear for their contributions to energy intake. Of particular interest is the presence of distraction. It has been postulated that when distracted, individuals are inclined to consumer more than when not distracted. However, how distraction and memory impact subsequent food choice and preference is less well known. A Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVIP) task was applied to distract individuals while eating; food intake and food behaviors were measured after RVIP distraction and compared to food intake and food behaviors without distraction in the same individuals.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-01-01
• Primary Completion: 2017-04-30
• Study Completion: 2018-05-31
• Study First Submitted: 2019-08-18
• Status Verified: 2019-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-09-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-09-01
• Study First Posted: 2019-09-06
• Last Update Posted: 2019-09-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 119

Inclusion Criteria

• able to read and speak English and willing to consume foods provided during the study

Exclusion Criteria

• adhering to any dietary restrictions or diets, having any food allergies, and/or having any chronic or metabolic diseases

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Distraction	Rapid Visual Information Processing task	Distraction during eating using the Rapid Visual Information Processing task as the distraction
Control	None or Control condition	No distraction during eating

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Food intake	Up to 14 days	Consumption of food by number of food items eaten

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Enjoyment	Up to 14 days	How much did you enjoy the meal provided? by 100mm visual analog scale; 0=not at all to 100=very much
Snack intake	Up to 14 days	Consumption of snack choices by number of food items eaten
Memory of food intake	Up to 14 days	Recording of food that was eaten during the condition period by number of food items eaten
Fullness	Up to 14 days	How full do you feel right now? by 100mm visual analog scale; 0=not at all to 100=very much
Hunger	Up to 14 days	How hungry do you feel right now? by 100mm visual analog scale; 0=not at all to 100=very much

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; 🇺🇸 Urbana, Illinois, United States